Protecting or Terrorizing America: Joseph McCarthy’s Stand Against Communism
Anika Sanyal
Junior Division
Historical Paper
Word Count: 2,491
“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need
not be lived again”.
-Maya Angelou
The annals of history are brimming with stories of people taking a stand. Societies
flourish when individuals take positions to advance the fundamental human rights of liberty and
freedom. However, when positions are guided by ignorance, dishonesty and narrow self interests,
societal progress is hindered. Joseph McCarthy, a Wisconsin Senator, stands out as someone
whose study can help us understand the dangers of assuming an injudicious stand in history.
Through his stance on Communism and his efforts to protect America, Joseph McCarthy ushered
in a climate of repression and fear which has had long lasting effects on the moral fabric of our
country.
Joseph McCarthy was born on November 14, 1908 in Grand Chute, Wisconsin. He grew
up in a large Irish Catholic family and was the fifth of nine children. Due to financial challenges,
McCarthy dropped out of middle school and went to work on his family farm at the age of
fourteen. He started a chicken farming business and eventually went on to manage a successful
grocery store. McCarthy returned to school at age twenty and worked diligently to complete four
years of high school in just 9 months.1 At college, he paid his way by managing gas stations,
washing dishes, serving as a cook and working on construction projects. His hard work paid off
and in addition to becoming the boxing champion, he was head coach of the Marquette
University team for one year.2 After graduating with a law degree, McCarthy went on to a
position in Shawano, WI. He became known around Shawano for his aggressive, but mostly
​Griffith, Robert. The Politics of Fear: Joseph R. McCarthy and the Senate. Lexington: Published for the
Organization of American Historians UP of Kentucky, 1970. Print. Pag. 2-3
2
Giblin, James Cross. The Rise and Fall of Senator Joe McCarthy. Boston: Clarion, 2009. Print. Pag. 15
1
1
cheerful and generous manner. Following an unsuccessful campaign for district attorney as a
democratic nominee, McCarthy switched political parties and ran as a Republican candidate.3
The incumbent judge, although more qualified, had falsified his birth records.4 McCarthy
challenged his opponent’s truthfulness and won this time around.5 As an observer recalled
“McCarthy had revealed in his campaign not only a brazen ambition, but also a considerable
capacity for deviousness”.6
Shortly after, the young district attorney’s political ambitions led him to enlist in the
Marines.7 Even though he exaggerated his military accomplishments, in addition to a Purple
Heart decoration, McCarthy received eight other citations.8 Even opponents conceded that “Joe”
was very popular with his army buddies.9 The next step in McCarthy’s career ladder was a
campaign for a Wisconsin Senate seat. He took on the distinguished Robert “young Bob”
LaFollette in this challenge. Since McCarthy hadn’t taken a firm stand on any major issues yet,
his strategy entailed attacking LaFollette’s personal and professional history. He indicated that
LaFollette was a Washington insider who had lost touch with the people of Wisconsin and had
also benefitted financially from the war.10 Even though the statements were misrepresentations,
McCarthy won the election and an embittered LaFollette retired from politics and eventually
took his own life.11
3
Herman, Arthur. Joseph McCarthy: Reexamining the Life and Legacy of America's Most Hated Senator. New
York: Free, 2000. Print. Pag. 23
4
Cohen, Daniel. Joseph McCarthy: The Misuse of Political Power. Milbrook Press, 1996. Pag. 31-32
5
​Griffith, Robert. Pag. 6
6
​Reeves, Thomas C. The Life and Times of Joe McCarthy. Scarborough House, 1982. Pag. 31
7
​Giblin, James Cross. Pag. 26
8
Cohen, Daniel. Pag. 36
9
Ibid​, Pag. 37
10
"​Loss of LaFollete." ​Knox Ville Journal​, 15 Aug. 1946.
11
Feurlicht, Roberta Strauss. Joe McCarthy and McCarthyism: The Hate That Haunts America. McGraw-Hill Book
Company, 1972. Pag. 20
2
When McCarthy entered the Senate in 1946, he was perceived as an outsider bereft of
personal charm or legislative ability. His colleagues in the Senate aware of McCarthy’s
half-truths largely stayed away from him.12 He also earned the demeaning nickname "the
Pepsi-Cola kid" because of his work for the soft-drink lobby.13 McCarthy attempted multiple
times to become more influential by proposing bills related to housing and labor. However, he
was unsuccessful. Plagued by a lack of accomplishments, and worried about a prospective
second-term, McCarthy consulted his close friend and fellow Roman Catholic, Father Edmund
Walsh, for a new direction.14
During this same time, the tensions of the Cold War had replaced the hostility of World
War II. The Soviet Union was expanding rapidly with the takeover of Romania and Poland. It
was also smashing down opposition parties, censuring press freedom​ ​and disregarding civil
rights. In February 1948, the Soviet takeover of the Czech Republic further horrified Americans.
With the discovery of Communist spies in the United States, the fear of Communism was at an
all time high.15 Against this backdrop and presumably out of a desire to further his career and the
belief that he was protecting his country, Senator McCarthy put forth his best known stand-the
idea to rid America of all Communists.16
What followed was a series of sensational statements which left their indelible mark on
history. McCarthy was scheduled to deliver a routine Lincoln Day address at a dinner sponsored
by a Republican Women's Club in Wheeling, West Virginia on February 9, 1950. His speech
​Troy, Gil. "The Millionaire Who Took on McCarthy." Benton Foundation, 9 Jan. 2017,
www.benton.org/headlines/millionaire-who-took-mccarthy. Accessed 8 Feb. 2017.
13
​Evans, M. Stanton. Blacklisted by History: The Untold Story of Senator Joe McCarthy and His Fight against
America's Enemies. New York: Crown Forum, 2007. Print. Pag. 68
14
​Cohn, Roy. McCarthy. New American Library, 1968 Pag. 11
15
Rorty, James, and Moshe Decter. McCarthy and the Communists. 1972 ed., Greenwood Press, 1972. Pag. 4
16
​Herman, Arthur. Pag. 177-178
12
3
incorporated the usual conservative lineup but then McCarthy departed from his script. He said,
“Ladies and Gentlemen, while I cannot take the time to name all the men in the State Department
who have been named as active members of the Communist Party and members of a spy ring, I
have here in my hand a list of 205 names that were made known to the Secretary of State, Dean
Acheson.”17 The charge was that Communist agents had penetrated the State Department and this
subversion was known to many, but no one was speaking up. The precise number of traitors on
McCarthy's lists varied from 205 to 57 to 81 and then 110, revealing that McCarthy was more
focused on delivering an alarming message, rather than concentrating on actual facts.18
Unfortunately,​ ​these statements were not new. McCarthy had found the information in a letter
the previous Secretary of State, James Byrnes, had written to an Illinois Congressman, a fact he
concealed.
At first, the story didn’t receive much attention. However, once the State Department
issued a denial, there was much more coverage. Not knowing the initial facts, the American
people, living in fear of the Soviet Union were shocked and stunned.19 McCarthy’s comments
supported and encouraged the existing atmosphere of fear and he was now constantly surrounded
by reporters and other media.20 He thrived under the spotlight, and the Senator’s already large
personality received an additional boost. When pressed for actual names of Communist agents,
McCarthy always proclaimed that he could provide the names if the State Department released
information on all Communistic activities. However, it was widely reported that McCarthy knew
17
Giblin, James Cross. Pag. 80-81
Sherrow, Victoria. Joseph McCarthy and the Cold War. Woodbridge, CT: Blackbirch, 1999. Print. Pag. 38 - 39
19
​Griffith, Robert. Pag. 82
20
Rovere, Richard H. Senator J. McCarthy. Harper Colophon, 1959. Pag. 140
18
4
that the State could not release this information because President Truman had issued an
executive order sealing all personnel files of federal employees in an effort to protect them.21
The anti-Communist stand propelled the Wisconsin Senator from an unknown politician
to a fighter on the Communist front and he secured a place in political history. Although founded
on several misrepresentations, McCarthy’s stand against Communism was persuasive. His
attacks combined religious sensitivities with patriotic themes and the message resonated deeply
with a people who were living with the dread of a Communist attack. For many people,
McCarthy’s appeal lay in the notion that he was exercising free speech. McCarthy was speaking
out against authorities and institutions, against many of whom there was anger and resentment.22
A reporter for the New York Times Magazine wrote on a farmer’s perspective of McCarthy. He
said, “I am for him. He’s against Communism and besides if he wasn’t telling the truth, they’d
hung him long ago. He’s one of the greatest Americans we’ve ever had.”23 Similar sentiments
echoed throughout the country.
The uproar from McCarthy’s anti-Communist tirades was so great that a committee,
headed by Senator Tydings, was established to investigate the claims.24 Although many knew the
accusations as false, government officials were wary of taking a stand, especially in light of the
heightened Cold War tensions and the potential backlash from the American people. There were
a few who stood up. Republican Senator, Margaret Chase Smith, spoke out against McCarthy
and later said, “If I am to be remembered in history, it will not be because of legislative
​ Woltman, Frederick. “Joe's Formula: Anything Goes For a Headline”. St.Petersburg Times, 28 July 1954.
​Trow, Martin. "Small Businessmen, Political Tolerance, and Support for McCarthy." ​American Journal of
Sociology​, Nov. 1958.
23
​Oakes, John B. "Report on McCarthy and McCarthyism; A visitor to Wisconsin analyzes the political strength of
a man whose significance extends beyond state boundaries." New York Times Magazine, 2 Nov. 1952. Pag. 12.
24
​Sherrow, Victoria. Pag. 41
21
22
5
accomplishments, but for a stand I took as a legislator in the US. I spoke in condemnation of
McCarthyism.”25 Another senator, William Benton, also opposed McCarthy and introduced a
resolution to expel him. In spite of McCarthy’s vigorous accusations, the committee found no
Communists in the State Department and all the individuals accused by name were cleared of
charges.
McCarthy was extremely resentful of these findings, but staying in the spotlight had
proved successful and he was re-elected to the Senate in 1952.26 In the Associated Press
popularity poll from 1953, the Senator from Wisconsin ranked second only to President
Eisenhower, a fact which his opponents could not disregard.27 In 1953, ​Time ​and ​Newsweek ​said
it was apparent that the Senator was aiming for the White House.28 McCarthy took these
approval ratings as an indication of the support of his anti-Communist stand and his tactics so
far. He believed that historians would remember him as a courageous American who took a stand
against the pro-Soviet forces of hell.29 Therefore, despite the Tydings Committee findings,
McCarthy formed another committee to investigate Communists in early 1953. This committee
investigated several accused including the Ambassador to the Soviet Union, the Voice of
America, and the overseas library program of the State department.30 All allegations were proven
baseless, but in the process, people’s reputations were ruined and the Voice of America almost
25
Giblin, James Cross. Pag. 11
​"McCarthyism." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 23 Dec. 2016.
27
PBS. www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/poll-results/eisenhower-poll-results/. Accessed 30 Jan.
2017.
28
​Wood, Mary. "McCarthy Era Offers Cautionary Tale for Post-9/11 America, Stone Says." ​University of Virginia​,
15 Apr. 2004, content.law.virginia.edu/news/2004_spr/mccarthy.htm. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017.
29
​McCarthy, Joseph. ​McCarthyism: The Fight for America​. New York, Devin-Adair Company, 1952., pag. VIII
30
​Anderson. McCarthy: The Man, The Senator, The Ism. The Beacon Press, 1952. Pag. 185
26
6
destroyed. One of the witnesses committed suicide, although McCarthy did not assume any
responsibility for these consequences.31
It was unfortunate that a stand against Communism had curbed public commentary and
introduced a climate of repression. Forced by self-serving politicians, fear led Americans to
doubt everyone in the hopes of protecting the country. The tense climate even affected college
level classes.32 For example, at the Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, a Professor of
Philosophy and Modern Ideas skipped teaching Communism in fear of being fired. Even writers
such as Langston Hughes, Howard Fast, Edna Ferber and Lillian Hellman were declared to be
Communists and blacklisted.33 Approximately 10,000 federal, state, local and private workers
lost employment because they were labeled as Communists.34 Innocent citizens were being
persecuted in their own country. 35
Despite the skeptical atmosphere, many officials conceded that McCarthy was fearlessly
tackling an important issue that had been unsuccessfully dealt with so far. Even if he was wrong
in the details, the argument went that he was right in the big things.36 His adulators, such as J.
Edgar Hoover famously said:
McCarthy is earnest. He is honest. He is sincere. Whenever you attack subversives of any
kind you are going to be the victim of the most extremely vicious criticism that can be
made. I view him as a friend and I believe he so views me. Certainly he's a controversial
figure. He's an ex-Marine. He was once an amateur boxer. He's Irish. Combine these
qualities and you're going to have an individual who is not going to be pushed around. 37
31
Cunningham, Jesse G. The McCarthy Hearings. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2003. Print. Pag. 11
Lately, Thomas. When Even Angels Wept: The Senator Joseph McCarthy Affair--a Story without a Hero. New
York: Morrow, 1973. Print. Pag. 311
33
​Giblin, James Cross. Pag. 66
34
​ Herman, Arthur. Pag. 108
35
​Evans, M. Stanton. Pag. 413
36
​Oshinsky, David M. ​A Conspiracy So Immense: The World of Joe McCarthy​. 1983. Free Press / Oxford UP, 2005.
Pag. 159
37
​Nolen, William A. "Senator Joe McCarthy." The Irish Monthly, June 1954.
32
7
The Wisconsin State Journal also wrote in favor of McCarthy and reported:
He has brought the anti-Communist fight out in the open, where it should be. He has
forced the reluctant administration to act against Communists and fellow-travelers in the
government and outside. He has focused attention upon the serious domestic issue of
infiltration by Russian agents. And, despite his critics and the most vicious personal
attacks directed on a public figure in our history, he has slowly but surely produced
evidence about persons and events ... evidence the American voters should have.
‘McCarthyism’ has encouraged our citizens to ask some penetrating questions of
"important" people, and demand honest answers.38
Despite the support, McCarthy’s reign of power finally came to an end during the
Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954. The Army-McCarthy hearings began as a result of
McCarthy’s accusations that he had knowledge that at least one Communist Party member had
access to military secrets and nuclear codes.39 He pronounced that the Army had distributed
Communist propaganda in 1952 and published these assertions in a document called
Physiological and Cultural Traits of Soviet Siberia​.40 Infuriated, the army responded quickly by
publicly releasing pages that clearly showed the documents as pro-American. President
Eisenhower, a career military personnel, who had largely ignored McCarthy’s proceedings so
far, directed the army to question the draft of Congressional staff member David Schine. Schine
was a colleague of Roy Cohn, McCarthy’s chief advisor.41 Cohn had requested privileged
treatment for Schine and this had irked the army and added fuel to an already raging fire. The
uproar that followed these accusations led to hearings addressing whether Cohn attempted to
intimidate the army. Enraged, McCarthy tried to divert the focus away from Schine and attacked
other army personnel. Frustrated and disillusioned by McCarthy’s tactics, the Army counsel,
Joseph Welch famously said, “Senator; you've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir?
38
"3,000 Hail McCarthy." Wisconsin State Journal [Madison], 4 Sept. 1952.
Rovere, Richard. Pag. 209
40
​Herman, Arthur. Pag. 240
41
Feurlicht, Roberta Strauss. Pag. 28
39
8
At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”42 The hearing room was silent at first, and then
was ringing in applause for Welch. Edward R Murrow, the distinguished newscaster also said,
“The line between investigation and persecution is a very fine one and the junior Senator has
stepped over it repeatedly.”43 America saw the televised hearings and was now more familiar
with the harsh and unwarranted strategies used by McCarthy, and his support was weaker than
ever.44 His approval ratings were at their lowest and several close friends begged McCarthy to
apologize to the people he attacked, but McCarthy refused.
In 1954, Democrats regained control of the House and Senate. The Republican party
blamed McCarthy for their loss and McCarthy was shunned by his own party. That same year, he
was censured by the Senate and his stand as the guard of all anti-Communistic activities ended.45
When his tirade ended, the parade of journalists and television appearances ended as well. This
crushed McCarthy and both his mental and physical health declined. He began to show up drunk
to Senate meetings and appeared loud and obnoxious. He died on May 2, 1957 from cirrhosis of
the liver.46
McCarthy’s tactics became a political main stay over the next fifty years, Later
practitioners included Richard Nixon (Watergate), Ronald Reagan (Iran-contra), and Newt
Gingrich (twice: first in the government shutdown of 1995 and then in Bill Clinton’s
impeachment).47 More recently, the group known as Professor Watchlist drawing inspiration
from McCarthy’s methods, worked on exposing college professors who discriminated against
42
Sherrow, Victoria. Pag. 63
​Reeves, Thomas C. Pag. 565
44
Giblin, James. Pag. 240
45
"The McCarthy Censure." ​The Herald Journal​, 10 Nov. 1954.
46
Cohn, Roy. Pag. 264
47
Un-American Activities. Sam Tanenhaus. Nov 30, 2000
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2000/11/30/un-american-activities. Accessed 31 Jan. 2017
43
9
conservative students.48 Even President Trump accused former President Obama of
"McCarthyism" as President Obama supposedly wire tapped President Trump's office.49
Ultimately, Joseph McCarthy’s stand against Communism is a cautionary note about the
perils of taking a public position based on propaganda and a misrepresentation of the truth.
Through his ill-advised stand against Communism and the misconception that he was defending
American freedom, Joseph McCarthy violated the spirit of the Rights protected by the First
Amendment. History can teach us an important lesson here. The views of present day leaders and
the consequences of decisions they make, can be better understood by studying past leaders, their
circumstances and the choices they made. As society decides on the values we hold dear and
makes decisions regarding the future of our world, we can always look to the past to study the
long-term effects of taking an injudicious stand.
48
"About Us." Professor Watchlist, Turning Point USA, www.professorwatchlist.org/index.php/about-us. Accessed
3 Feb. 2017.
49
​Wootson, Cleve R., Jr. "The president accused Obama of ‘McCarthyism.’ But Trump’s mentor helped enforce it."
Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2017,
www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/03/04/the-president-accused-obama-of-mccarthyism-but-trumps-m
entor-helped-enforce-it/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_fix-mccarthyism-130pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.
88a9cb697ee9. Accessed 6 Mar. 2017.
10
Appendix I:
This pictures depicts Joseph McCarthy holding a recall petition. This source provided further
insight about the “Joe must go” propoganda.
Hnrichs, Ed. ​I Hold in My Hand-Whoops​. Wisconsin Historical Society.
11
Appendix II:
This source is a petition to recall McCarthy. It received a numerous amount of signatures and
helped me fully understand the lack of support he received after the Army-McCarthy hearings.
Dave. ​Petition for Recall​. 3 Mar. 54, Wisconsin Historical Society.
12
Annotated Bibliography
Primary Sources
Books
Cohn, Roy. McCarthy. New American Library, 1968
This source is a book written by Roy Cohn, one of Joseph McCarthy’s top advisors on his
subcommittee. He was one of the most influential people in the McCarthy committee, and
therefore played a key role in McCarthyism. He urged McCarthy to hire his good friend David
Schine for the position of chief consultant. Cohn was accused of trying to get preferential
treatment from the army towards David Schine. In this book, Cohn justifies the McCarthy
subcommittee, as well as their actions. Many of the more recent books portray McCarthy in a
negative light. I used this book to obtain another perspective regarding McCarthy’s actions.
McCarthy, Joseph. ​McCarthyism: The Fight for America​. New York, Devin-Adair Company,
1952.
This book was written by McCarthy himself and answers questions that people frequently asked.
Here is one example of a question that was particularly fascinating “Do you feel that Acheson is
knowingly working toward the triumph of communism? In other words, do you feel that
Acheson is a traitor?”. It was extremely interesting to read McCarthy’s response to this question
and others. I used this source for further information on McCarthy’s views.
Rovere, Richard H. Senator J. McCarthy. Harper Colophon, 1959.
After McCarthy died, many of his supporters denounced McCarthyism and went on to follow
successful career paths. For example, Roy Cohn became a successful lawyer and has worked for
13
businessmen such as Donald Trump. This source provided me with much information about the
after effects of McCarthyism, and what happened after McCarthy passed away.
Newspaper Articles
"Admirers Gather to Pay Tribute." ​Star-News​, 6 May 1957.
Even after McCarthy’s death, he still had a multitude of admirers and supporters. According this
article, more than 2,040 people came to a funeral home to pay tribute to McCarthy. This article
also describes the cause of McCarthy’s death, and the extent of his influence. I used this source
to gain more knowledge about his impact after his death.
deToledano, Ralph. "About Senator Joe McCarthy." Ludington Daily News, 4 Nov. 1972.
“The Assassination of Trosky” was a movie that did not fare well at the box office. The director
of the movie, Losey, was formerly blacklisted and made this his comeback movie. As Losey’s
movie was not faring well, he blamed his failure on Senator McCarthy.
This article details the impact of “McCarthyism” 15 years after Senator McCarthy passed away.
The author states the fact that even though McCarthy is dead, people are still blaming him and
scorning him. This article gave me more information about the legacy of McCarthy, and how
McCarthyism continues to be relevant throughout history.
"Communists." ​Eagle River News Review​, 23 Feb. 1950.
This article stated that Senator McCarthy convinced all Democrats that his charges were real
when “the briefcase full of evidence straight from the FBI” was presented. This article went on
14
to discuss how McCarthy deserves the support of all Americans and that he is a true hero. I used
this article to learn about the reactions of the press to McCarthy’s claim.
"Go After Him Joe." ​The Mosinee Times​, 7 Dec. 1949.
McCarthy declared that he would like to have a public debate with Mr. Evjue, the editor of The
Capital Times. This followed McCarthy’s accusation that Evjue had hired one of the country’s
leading communists, Cedric Parker, to be a writer. This article encouraged McCarthy to continue
to attack Evjue and The Capital Times. I used this article to learn about what others thought of
McCarthy and his accusations.
Indian Measures Passed by Senate, McCarthy Reports." ​Shawano Evening Leader​, 26 Aug.
1949.
The article reported the two important financial measures concerning the Indian reservation
offered by McCarthy. In this article, McCarthy explained these amendments. I used this article to
learn about some of the bills McCarthy passed in his early career.
"Keeping Reds Part of Washington Plan." ​Jamesville Gazette​, 16 Feb. 1950.
This article declared that, although McCarthy may be highly criticized, he was undoubtedly a
very loyal and patriotic citizen. This article also stated that the government knew of potential
communists, and they were using this to their advantage. I used this article to learn about what
people during that time thought of McCarthy.
"Loss of LaFollete." ​Knox Ville Journal​, 15 Aug. 1946.
Senator LaFollete, a veteran of 21 years in the Senate, was finally defeated by Joseph McCarthy.
McCarthy had a lead of 6694 votes. This article provided me with much information about the
election of 1946.
15
"McCarthy Asks Acheson Quit." ​Milwaukee Sentinel​, 22 Jan. 1950.
McCarthy demanded that Dean Acheson, the Secretary of State, should resign. The article
follows Dean Acheson’s testimony on behalf of Alger Hiss, who was an actual spy for the Soviet
Union. McCarthy said that this action “makes it necessary the secretary quit his post or clean
house”. This article provided me with more information about the Hiss trials and actual Soviet
spies in the United States.
"McCarthy Asked to Name Reds." ​Green Bay Press Gazette​, 14 Feb. 1950.
Joseph McCarthy named John Service as one of the 57 people in the State Department who were
a national security threat. He also named four other officials. When asked to name more officials,
McCarthy refused. This article aided me in understanding the press’ reactions to McCarthy’s
claims.
"McCarthy's Charge of Reds." ​Janesville Gazette​, 14 Dec. 1949.
This article praised McCarthy for finally saying what everyone supposedly knew: that there were
communists in the US government. According to this article, for years there had been much
evidence that deputies and aids in the State Department were Communists. This article also
described that the lack of direction in the State Department was due to people who were not
willing to admit that there were communists inside the US government. This article aided me as
it provided me with more information about the reaction to McCarthy’s accusations on
Communists having infiltrated the State government.
"McCarthy Defends His Conduct of Hearings." St. Petersburg Times, 28 July 1954.
16
“No rule on earth can endow a man without brains. I don’t think you can ever pass a rule making
an irresponsible man responsible.” -Joseph McCarthy
McCarthy made this statement in regards to congress investigating the McCarthy committee.
This primary source was written during McCarthy’s downfall. I used this source to develop a
further understanding of McCarthy’s downfall and the measures he was using to defend himself.
This source was very useful as it contained many quotes McCarthy used while being interviewed
for this article.
"McCarthy Urges U.S. to Withhold Aid to 'Allies.'" The Bullet, 30 Oct. 1953.
Joseph McCarthy stated at an Americanism dinner that the United States should not give “one
dollar to these phony allies”. These allies, including Great Britain, apparently “are building up
our enemies”. According to McCarthy, by doing this the United States could win the Cold War
“without firing a single shot.” This source described many of the controversial statements
McCarthy made that night, and aided me in understanding some of his other political stances.
"McCarthy Proposes War Orphans Bill." The Green Bay Press Gazette, 16 July 1949.
McCarthy proposed a bill that would put money in the hands of the German Central War Council
to be used to aid German orphans. This bill would help pay for education and training for the
orphans, as well as for food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. This newspaper article provided
me with more information regarding this bill.
"McCarthy Sees 'Nazified' US." ​Milwaukee Journal​, 25 Dec. 1949.
17
McCarthy said that the US army were using a “blueprint” created by Nazi General Heinz
Giaurdian. McCarthy believed that, although he did not oppose many policies in this plan, the
US should not borrow the idea created by a Nazi general. This article proved me with further
insight into McCarthy’s non-communist related ideas.
"President's Wife Cleared." ​La Crosse Tribune & Leader Press​, 16 Aug. 1949.
Senator McCarthy spoke in favor of Mrs.Truman regarding charges of smuggling and stated that
that was no possible way that she would ever do something to discredit her position. McCarthy
also said that General Vaughan was at fault as he was a top aide to President Truman. This
article was important because it provided me with information about McCarthy’s relations with
President Truman.
"Red Faces on Both Sides." Wisconsin State Journal, 13 July 1949.
This article discusses the court’s decision to not disbar McCarthy. It states that this decision was
politically inspired, as the court that made this decision was the same court that allowed
McCarthy to run for the Senate in 1946. The court said in its response that McCarthy’s running
“did not meet the condemnation of the voters at the 1946 election”. This article provided me with
more information about the court’s decision to not disbar McCarthy.
"Says State Department 'Shot through with Communists.'" ​The Marinette EAGLE Star​, 7 Dec.
1949.
McCarthy said that the State Department was “shot through with communists” in a Senate
speech. He also said that as long as there are Communists in the State Department, there was
18
little hope for America. This article furthered my understanding about McCarthy’s claims
regarding communists.
"Senator McCarthy Backs Charges by Crommelin." ​Milwaukee Sentinel​, 19 Nov. 1949.
McCarthy offered to serve as chief counsel to Crommelin, who accused the Army General Staff
of trying to seize control of the Defense Department. McCarthy backed these claims with his full
support. This source was yet another example of one of McCarthy’s actions in his early
Senatorial career.
"Sen. McCarthy Discusses Bill on School Aid." Minocqua Lakeland Tribune, 14 July
1949.
Joseph McCarthy sponsored a bill that would allocate funds and give States that have lower
educational resources more money from the federal government. In this article, McCarthy
provided more information and statistics about this bill. This source was useful because it aided
me in understanding McCarthy’s early senatorial career.
"Senator McCarthy and His Accusations." The Age, 20 May 1953.
“What sort of man is senator Joseph McCarthy who refers to the leader of Her Majesty’s
opposition as “Comrade Atlee”, whose rancorous abuse reaches the headlines of the world?”
This quote is from this newspaper article. In this article, the unknown author summarizes
McCarthy’s career in the Senate. This article portrays McCarthy in a negative light. I used this
source to improve my understanding about what people thought of McCarthy during his time
period.
"State Department Spy Quiz Ordered after McCarthy's Charges." ​Ashland Press​, 23 Feb. 1950.
19
After McCarthy’s famous speech where he claimed that there were 81 card carrying communists
within the State Department, the State Department issued a denial. However, the State
Department did agree to investigate officials to see if there was any truth in these statements.
This article aided me as it furthered my understanding about the reaction of the State
Department.
"'Tail Gunner Joe'- Rise and Fall of Sen. McCarthy." The Telegraph, 5 Feb. 1977.
This article describes the movie “Tail Gunner Joe”. Tail Gunner Joe describes the life of Joseph
McCarthy. The film covers all of McCarthy’s career, and emphasizes the controversy regarding
McCarthy and his action. This movie also includes interviews of several friends and major
figures in McCarthy’s career. This article provided me with much insight on the movie “Tail
Gunner Joe,” and aided me in understanding the movie more.
"The Hoover Plan." Wasau Record Herald, 6 July 1949.
The Hoover Plan was a series of bills that reorganized various agencies and bureaus within the
government. These bills cut money from the budgets of several organizations while increasing
the budgets of others. McCarthy was the ranking Republican member of the Senate on this
committee, and introduced many of these bills. This article aided me because it provided me with
more information about the Hoover Plan.
"The McCarthy Censure." ​The Herald Journal​, 10 Nov. 1954.
After the Army-McCarthy hearings, Joseph McCarthy was put under censure for misconduct.
This article, written during this time period, provided much insight into the events that occurred
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during these hearings, and the possible effects of this on the future. I used this article to learn
more about McCarthy’s censure.
"The Misuse of the Term Communism." ​Madison Capital Times​, 2 Dec. 1949.
This article addressed McCarthy’s claims that The Capital Times was a “communistic”
newspaper. It said that McCarthy’s claims were preposterous as there was no evidence to support
that claim. This article also pointed out that yelling the word “communist” is like yelling the
word “wolf”. I used this article to learn more about McCarthy’s accusations about The Capital
Times.
"The Supreme Court Admits It Follows the Election Returns." Madison Capital Times, 15 July
1949.
This article followed the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to not disbar McCarthy.
According to this article, the court admitted that it had been following election returns after it
made its decision. The court stated that although McCarthy violated the constitution, his oath as
an attorney and as a judge, he was not charged because the majority of voters elected him to the
Senate. I used this source to learn about the controversy surrounding McCarthy in his early
career.
Woltman, Frederick. "Joe's Formula: Anything Goes For a Headline." St.Petersburg Times, 28
July 1954.
This article, from the ​St. Petersburg Times​, was written during the army-McCarthy hearings.
This article portrayed McCarthy as a demagogue, who would do anything to make the front page
of a newspaper and headlines. This article was the fourth of a series of articles describing the
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actions of McCarthy that were used as propaganda at that time to portray McCarthy in a negative
light, written by pulitzer prize winner Frederick Woltman.
Historical Manuscripts in an Archive
Brewster, Owen. Telegram to McCarthy Headquarters. 9 Dec. 1951.
This telegram is from Owen Brewster, who was the governor of Maine from 1941- 1952 and was
also a US senator. In this letter, Owen Brewster lists the reasons why McCarthy would make a
wonderful Senator and would be exactly what America needed. This primary source was
extremely useful as it gave me further insight into what people thought about McCarthy during
his time. It also furthered my understanding about why McCarthy managed to gain so much
power.
Duchon, Lawrence. Telegram to Joe McCarthy Auditorium. 11 Dec. 1951, Wisconsin Historical
Society.
“Behind you one hundred percent.” - Lawrence Duchon
This telegram is from Lawrence Duchon to the McCarthy Auditorium. In this telegram, Duchon
expresses his support towards McCarthy and his condolences because he cannot attend an
unspecified event. This telegram is key because it illustrates the extent of the support McCarthy
received during that time.
Holland, Dennie. Telegram to Joe McCarthy, Senator. 11 Dec. 1951.
This source is from Dennie Holland to Senator Joseph McCarthy. This telegram expresses
Holland’s appreciation of McCarthy, and Holland expresses her regret that she can’t be there to
22
celebrate McCarthy at an unknown event. This source is another example of the influence
McCarthy had back then.
Jenner, William E. Telegram to McCarthy Club. 11 Dec. 1951, Wisconsin Historical Society.
This telegram is from William E. Jenner, a United States Senator during the time when
McCarthy was in power. In this telegram, Jenner is declining an invitation to an unspecified
event in honor of McCarthy. Jenner states “I regret I cannot be with you to aid in honoring a
fearless Senator and great American.” This source is important because it is an example of the
influence McCarthy had during that time, and the amount of respect he commanded.
McCarthy, Joseph. Letter to Richard Perrin. 10 Jan. 1949
This letter detailed McCarthy’s views on public housing during his early Senate career.
McCarthy was a strong advocate against public housing, and stated in this letter that, “I am,
always have been, and will continue to be unalterably opposed to spending one cent of
taxpayers’ money if those people whose housing need is the most desperate are barred from
living in taxpayer-supported money.” This letter provided me with further insight on McCarthy’s
earlier career and his early political stances.
McCarthy, Joe. Letter to Olaf Johnson. 4 Mar. 1949, Wisconsin Historical Society.
This primary source was a letter Joseph McCarthy sent regarding his views on two specific bills.
McCarthy stated that he was trying to amend one bill that would transfer four million dollars
from the Colorado River Basin to the Agriculture Department. The second bill (which McCarthy
strongly advocated for) would grant 44 million dollars to the Agriculture department. This letter
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aided me in understanding several policies that McCarthy advocated for during his early political
career.
Oakes, John B. "Report on McCarthy and McCarthyism; A visitor to Wisconsin analyzes the
political strength of a man whose significance extends beyond state boundaries." New York
Times Magazine, 2 Nov. 1952, p. 12.
"Sure, I'm for McCarthy. I'm against communism. McCarthy's a real American and he's the only
one in Washington doing anything about the Communists.” This quote is from an unnamed
newspaper editor who lived in rural Wisconsin. This article investigated the many reasons people
supported McCarthy. I used this article to learn more about McCarthy’s supporters.
Schoeppel, Andrew F. Telegram to Joseph R. McCarthy. 11 Dec. 1951, Wisconsin Historical
Society.
“... Best wishes to you and your many friends…”
Andrew F. Schoeppel served as the Governor of Kentucky from 1943 - 1947, then became a US
senator. He was also a prominent member of the Republican party. He was another of
McCarthy’s many well wishers and fully supported McCarthy. I used this primary source to
develop a better understanding of McCarthy’s supporters.
"McCarthy to Offer Evidence on Red Charge." ​Wisconsin State Journal​, 19 Feb. 1950.
“I am not addicted to wild statements and I intend to back this up,” Joseph McCarthy stated
regarding his claim that there were 57 card carrying Communists in the State Department.
McCarthy also said that he would provide facts and documents in a Senate speech to back this
claim. I used this article to learn more about McCarthy’s claim about communists in the State
Department.
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Photographs and Images
Dave. ​Petition for Recall​. 3 Mar. 54, Wisconsin Historical Society.
This article is a petition to recall Joseph McCarthy. This petition was created after the
Army-McCarthy hearings and received a multitude of signatures. This source provided much
useful insight into the amount of hate McCarthy received after the Army-McCarthy hearings.
Hnrichs, Ed. ​I Hold in My Hand-Whoops​. Wisconsin Historical Society.
This editorial cartoon depicts McCarthy holding a recall petition. The title of the picture is “I
hold in my hand-whoops” because of McCarthy's famous speech about a list of communists in
the state department. This source was extremely useful as it provided me with further insight
about the “Joe must go” petitions.
Journals
Trow, Martin. "Small Businessmen, Political Tolerance, and Support for McCarthy." ​American
Journal of Sociology​, Nov. 1958.
​This study showed that McCarthy received much support from small businessman and little
support from salaried employees. However, compared to educational achievement, occupation
was found to have little effect on political affiliation. This study was important because it
provided me with statistics and unique insight into who supported McCarthy.
Committee Hearing and Testimony
United States, Congress, Special Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee of
Government Operations. Army-McCarthy Hearings. Government Printing Office, 1954, pp.
2426-30. 83rd Congress.
25
This transcript documents the exchange between Roy Cohn, Joseph McCarthy, and Joseph
Welch. This particular hearing led to Welch’s famous statement, “Have you no sense of decency,
at long last, sir?” McCarthy responded to this statement by continuing to attack Fisher, until
Welch would hear no more of it. I used this document to learn about the lead up to Welch’s
statement and McCarthy’s response to it.
Secondary Sources
Books
Anderson. McCarthy: The Man, The Senator, The Ism. The Beacon Press, 1952
This book analyzed the pros and cons of McCarthyism and McCarthy. This book also provided
additional insight on McCarthyism. This analytical and informative book was extremely useful
because much of it was focused on McCarthyism. It aided me in understanding the impact of
McCarthyism.
Bayley, Edwin R. Joe McCarthy and the Press. U of Wisconsin P, 1981.
McCarthy used the Press to his advantage. The press gave him the attention he needed to rise to
power. Although they helped him, they also damaged his cause during the Army McCarthy
hearings. This informative book explored McCarthy’s relationship with the Press, specifically
looking into how the Press affected McCarthy’s rise to power and descent from power.
Buckley. McCarthy and His Enemies. Henry Regnery, 1954
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Throughout his career, McCarthy prosecuted many people such as Owen Lattimore, and Esther
Brunauer. This book detailed all of the people McCarthy prosecuted, and also focused on the
many enemies McCarthy made during his career. A large portion of this book was focused on the
Tydings committee, and therefore provided much insight about all the different groups and
people McCarthy targeted.
Cohen, Daniel. Joseph McCarthy: The Misuse of Political Power. Milbrook Press, 1996.
This source effectively summarized and detailed McCarthy’s career in the Senate. This work was
important for my paper as it provided information of all aspects of McCarthy’s career. One
excerpt that stood out particularly was the passage “From McCarthy to McCarthyism.” This
passage described how McCarthyism came to be and was useful in understanding McCarthy’s
legacy.
Cunningham, Jesse G. The McCarthy Hearings. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2003. Print.
This source is a compilation of excerpts from books and articles about McCarthy. These excerpts
clearly follow McCarthy’s early life to his modern day impact. These excerpts were very useful
because instead of simply being written in one voice, this book offered a diversity of voices and
information that made it a very engaging read. This source was useful because the voice was
constantly changing, which in turn allowed me to form my own connections between the stages
of his career.
Evans, M. Stanton. Blacklisted by History: The Untold Story of Senator Joe McCarthy and His
Fight against America's Enemies. New York: Crown Forum, 2007. Print.
27
During the cold war, many famous actors and directors were accused of supporting communistic
ideas and being communists. These people were put on “blacklists”. Being blacklisted often
ruined one’s career and forced one to move. Blacklists affected hundreds of Americans. This
book summarized McCarthy’s career, with a specific focus on the McCarthy committee and his
involvement with blacklists. I used this source to gain further knowledge about blacklists and
how Americans were affected by McCarthy’s actions.
Feurlicht, Roberta Strauss. Joe McCarthy and McCarthyism: The Hate That Haunts America.
McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1972.
McCarthy was often known as “The Pepsi-Cola Kid” during his early days in Washington due to
his ideas about sugar and his affiliation with the Pepsi company. This book asked questions such
as “How did his connection with Pepsi affect his later career?” and answered them with specific
examples and well thought out responses. This source was useful as it deepened my
understanding about the importance of his early life and Senate career on his later Senate career.
Fried, Richard M. ​Nightmare in Red: The McCarthy Era in Perspective​. Oxford UP, 1990.
This source emphasized the effect of McCarthyism on “ordinary people,” such as teachers,
factory workers, janitors, and lawyers. This book also focused on the Lattimore case and the
discovery of actual Soviet spies in the United States. I used this source to learn about
McCarthy’s accusations and the impact of McCarthyism on people during that time.
Giblin, James Cross. The Rise and Fall of Senator Joe McCarthy. Boston: Clarion, 2009. Print.
“I can investigate anybody!” - Joseph McCarthy
28
These words were spoken by Joseph McCarthy. This source focused on Senator McCarthy rise
and fall from power. I used this book to learn about McCarthy’s influences and the reasons he
became one of the most influential figures during the Cold War. I also used this book to learn
more about the Army-McCarthy hearings as well as the specific factors that played into his
descent from power.
Griffith, Robert. The Politics of Fear: Joseph R. McCarthy and the Senate. Lexington: Published
for the Organization of American Historians UP of Kentucky, 1970. Print.
During Senator McCarthy’s time in power, he investigated many organizations and people in
order to find supposed communists. Ordinary people lived in fear of being accused of being
un-American, supporting communistic ideas, or being communists.
This book explores all aspects of McCarthy’s career. It questions the real reason McCarthy rose
to power, and also summarizes his entire career. I used this source to develop a further
understanding of all aspects of McCarthy’s term in the Senate; the good and the bad. This source
also helped me realize the full impact that McCarthy had on his community and the amount of
fear he sparked.
Herman, Arthur. Joseph McCarthy: Reexamining the Life and Legacy of America's Most Hated
Senator. New York: Free, 2000. Print.
This source challenges whether McCarthy was a demagogue, or instead a politician with the
nation’s best interests at heart. This book uses well known examples of McCarthy’s career and
reexamines them. This book was extremely useful as it portrayed McCarthy in a different light.
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Lately, Thomas. When Even Angels Wept: The Senator Joseph McCarthy Affair--a Story
without a Hero. New York: Morrow, 1973. Print.
This source, written 23 years after McCarthy reached his peak, detailed the impact the word
“McCarthyism” had then. While a bit one sided, this source was wonderfully thorough about the
impact of McCarthy’s actions and how his words caused much fear and panic. This source
helped me fully understand the power of words and how we have to be careful about our actions,
for everything we say and do affects others.
Matusow, Allen J., editor. Joseph R McCarthy. Prentice-Hall.
This book consists of a summary of Joseph McCarthy’s life told from different perspectives.
They editor of this book compiled a series of analysis or explanations of his actions narrated by
political scientists, historians, and others in order to create a book with multiple views. Another
notable element in this book is the use of direct quotations or transcripts of senatorial hearings.
This was very useful because it enabled me to further understand McCarthy’s actions and words
by actually reading a transcript.
Oshinsky, David M. ​A Conspiracy So Immense: The World of Joe McCarthy​. 1983. Free Press /
Oxford UP, 2005.
In modern day, Joseph McCarthy is portrayed as an attention-seeking power hungry demagogue
who terrorized thousands of Americans. Even the term “McCarthyism” has a negative
connotation. There are few politicians in American history who are known for inspiring that
much fear and terror. How did someone that infamous rise to power? This book investigates all
30
the factors that played into his ascent to power, and also aided me in understanding what the
name “Joseph McCarthy” means in the present.
Reeves, Thomas C. The Life and Times of Joe McCarthy. Scarborough House, 1982.
This in-depth biography covered all of McCarthy’s life from his birth to death. This source was
filled with details and was extremely informative. As the book covered all of McCarthy’s life
and was filled with facts about him, it aided me in understanding the “bigger picture” and all of
McCarthy’s life.
Rorty, James, and Moshe Decter. McCarthy and the Communists. 1972 ed., Greenwood
Press, 1972.
McCarthy persecuted supposed communists and communist infested organizations. He targeted
the Voice of America, a broadcast that had foreign language radio programs in 80 countries, that
conveyed an American point of view on current events. After numerous televised hearings, he
failed to prove that there was sabotage, and nearly destroyed the Voice of America. One of the
witnesses committed suicide. This source was useful because it helped me understand the effect
of the McCarthy committee on the public. The lesson I can learn from this situation is that words
have an impact, and you have to be careful about what you say.
Rosteck, Thomas. See It Now Confronts McCarthy. U of Alabama P, 1994.
On March 9, 1954, journalist Edward R. Murrow devoted an entire episode of the CBS show,
“See It Now,” to confront McCarthy. Murrow exposed all of McCarthy’s falsehoods and
exposed McCarthy to the people. This famous incident revealed the influence of the Press over
the people as McCarthy’s once plentiful support was decreased, and his popularity ratings fell.
31
This book detailed the impact of Murrow’s attack on McCarthy’s career, and the role the Press
played in McCarthy’s fall from power.
Sherrow, Victoria. Joseph McCarthy and the Cold War. Woodbridge, CT: Blackbirch, 1999.
Print.
This source is a book explaining McCarthy’s ascent to and descent from power. The book was
clearly sectioned and laid out his career in a way that made it easier for me to understand the
different stages. I used this source in my paper to show a clear connection between all aspects of
his career.
Walker, William T. A Reference Guide: McCarthyism and the Red Scare. ABC-CLIO, 2011.
Dean Acheson, Roy Cohn, Owen Lattimore, and Edward Murrow were all influential figures in
McCarthy’s career and played crucial roles in McCarthy’s ascent to power and descent from
power. This book focused on those figures and others, and was useful as it aided me in
understanding the influential figures in McCarthy’s career.
Websites
"About Us." Professor Watchlist, Turning Point USA,
www.professorwatchlist.org/index.php/about-us. Accessed 3 Feb. 2017.
“The mission of Professor Watchlist is to expose and document college professors who
discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom.”
This McCarthyesque project researches news stories about Professors who supposedly advance
32
“leftist propaganda”. This source is extremely interesting as it provides me with a modern day
example of McCarthyism.
Troy, Gil. "The Millionaire Who Took on McCarthy." Benton Foundation, 9 Jan. 2017,
www.benton.org/headlines/millionaire-who-took-mccarthy. Accessed 8 Feb. 2017.
William Benton was a Senator who opposed Joseph McCarthy. Angered by Benton’s actions,
McCarthy responded by filing a $2 million libel suit. This web page helped me understand the
life of William Benton more, as well as why he decided to challenge McCarthy.
Mele, Christopher. ​The New York Times​. 28 Nov. 2016,
www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/us/professor-watchlist-is-seen-as-threat-to-academic-freedom.ht
ml. Accessed 3 Feb. 2017.
“The Professor Watchlist” is a list of leftist professors created by ultra-conservative group
Turning Point USA. This project’s goal is to “expose” professors who were teaching left wing
propaganda. This article provided me with more information about the Professor Watchlist and
aided me in understanding the threat this list could pose to many Professors.
"McCarthy's Downfall." McCarthy's Downfall. Web. 26 Dec. 2016.
There were many stages to McCarthy’s downfall. From the article “Reds in our Churches” to
final days of the army-McCarthy hearings, McCarthy’s descent from power was very complex.
This article aided me in fully understanding his downfall and all the different factors that played
into it. It also gave me further insight about his death.
Stolberg, Sheryl Gay. "Transcripts Detail Secret Questioning In 50's by McCarthy." New York
Times, 6 May 2003,
33
www.nytimes.com/2003/05/06/us/transcripts-detail-secret-questioning-in-50-s-by-mccarthy.html
?rref=collection%2F
timestopic%2FMcCarthy%2C%20Joseph%20R.&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics®
ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=27&pgtype=collection&m
trref=www.nytimes.com. Accessed 1 Jan. 2017
McCarthy held secret hearings to weed out supposed communists. McCarthy had a total of 161
private sessions between 1953 and 1954. Only the suspects who looked weak, confused, or used
their right to not self incriminate were forced to testify in public. These secret hearings were
detailed in transcripts released in 2003. This source summarized the transcripts. I used this article
to solidify my understanding about the methods McCarthy used to find “communists” and his
tactics to remain in power.
Wootson, Cleve R., Jr. "The president accused Obama of ‘McCarthyism.’ But Trump’s mentor
helped enforce it." Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2017,
www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/03/04/
the-president-accused-obama-of-mccarthyism-but-trumps-mentor-helped-enforce-it/?hpid=hp_h
p-top-table-main_fix-mccarthyism-130pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.88a9cb697ee9.
Accessed 6 Mar. 2017.
Mr. Trump accused former President Obama of wire tapping his phones just before the 2016
election, and stated that these tactics resembled those used in the McCarthy era, or McCarthyism.
This article also mentioned the fact that Mr. Trump had hired Roy Cohn, who was one of
McCarthy’s top aides. I used this article to learn about how the term ‘McCarthyism’ was being
used today.
Yancy, George. "I Am a Dangerous Professor." ​The New York Times​, 30 Nov. 2016,
www.nytimes.com/2016/11/30/opinion/i-am-a-dangerous-professor.html?action=click&pgtype=
Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-left-region®ion=opinion-c-col-l
eft-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region&_r=0. Accessed 3 Feb. 2017.
34
George Yancy, the author of this article and a Professor of Philosophy at Emory University,
expressed his disdain at the fact that he was put on “The Professor Watchlist”. The Professor
Watchlist is a list of some 200 professors who practice “advance leftist propaganda in the
classroom.” In this article, Yancy compared the similarities between The Professor Watchlist and
McCarthy’s list. I used this source to learn about present day examples of McCarthyism.
Encyclopedia
"McCarthyism." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 23 Dec. 2016.
McCarthyism is a word that has many meanings. In this article, the author explained
McCarthyism as the period of time McCarthy was in power. During this time, McCarthy held
investigative hearings about supposed communists in the government. I used this source in my
paper to further my knowledge about The McCarthy Hearings and McCarthyism.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Joseph McCarthy." Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Oct.
2014, www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-McCarthy. Accessed 25 Jan. 2017.
After graduating college from Marquette, McCarthy became a lawyer. He \was a successful and
somewhat respected lawyer, and eventually became a circuit judge. I used this source to get a
basic overview on Joseph McCarthy. This was the first source I used and it summarized his
entire career.
Interviews
Fried, Richard. Interview. 26 Mar. 2017.
Richard Fried is the author of ​Nightmare in Red: The McCarthy Era in Perspective​. This
interview provided me with much information about McCarthy’s influence in Europe, and the
35
United States’ relations with Russia. This interview helped me understand the context of
McCarthy’s actions.
Tye, Larry. Interview. 29 Mar. 2017.
Larry Tye is an author and has previously written a book about Bobby Kennedy. Tye is currently
writing a book about Joseph McCarthy. This interview aided me in understanding how McCarthy
can be over vilified, and greatly helped me in creating a balanced view of McCarthy.
Sharpless, John. Telephone interview. 7 Feb. 2017.
John Sharpless is a Professor at the University of Madison and teaches a course on Joseph
McCarthy. This interview was useful as it helped me understand the many characteristics of
McCarthy’s personality. Professor Sharpless also provided me with some unique insight into
how he interprets McCarthyism, which aided me in fully understanding McCarthyism.
36